"Would you be good enough to explain to this forum why there is an education reform movement in the first place?"

According to David Denby (2012) in his "New Yorker" article "Public Defender: Diane Ravitch Takes On A Movement":

a. the reform movement that Ravitch opposes is the conservative wing of what "Haim" calls "The Education Mafia";

b. it's "supported by President Obama and his Education Secretary, Arne Duncan; it is also championed by the Republican Party; by many governors, mayors, and schools chancellors; and by a variety of wealthy entrepreneurs and fund managers";

c. it's "driven by an exaggerated negative critique of the schools. . . . that . . . is mistakenly imposing a free-market ethos of competition on an institution that, if it is to function well, requires cooperation, sharing, and mentoring."=============================================

So, according to David Denby, the leader of the Democratic Party and the most socialist President of The Republic in living memory conspires with the "conservative wing" of the Education Mafia, exactly to what end is not clear. They are aided and abetted by governors (among whom are many Democrats) and mayors (almost all of whom are Democrats), and the Republican Party is at the bottom of it all, never mind that NCLB was written almost single-handedly by a lion of the Democratic Party and a champion of the Education Mafia, one Senator Ted Kennedy, RIP. And you are okay with this chaotic and improbable conspiracy theory, professor?

I appeal to Ockham and say to you there is a much simpler and more coherent explanation for the education reform efforts (however misguided they may be): the public schools have collapsed to the detriment of many people (especially poor and minority), the people who actually run the schools are responsible, and even Democrats want to do something about it.

And the pitiful Diane Ravitch? She contorts herself intellectually and morally to protect the guilty, who are her professional friends.